Maharashtra Local Body Elections Witness Rare One-Vote Victories

Mumbai: The ruling Maha-Unity alliance in Maharashtra, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), achieved a strong performance in the recently concluded local body elections. Out of 288 municipal councils and Nagar Panchayats, the alliance secured 207 chairperson positions. While many victories were decisive, a few seats saw razor-thin margins, with candidates winning by just a single vote.

Historic One-Vote Wins
The elections produced a rare phenomenon where three candidates won by only one vote, drawing attention across the state. BJP’s Sandeep Bhise and Pramila Panchal, along with NCP’s Sunita Rahul Dhore, made headlines for these narrow victories.

Sandeep Bhise’s Stunning Win
Sandeep Bhise of BJP clinched the Chiploon Municipal Council seat in Ratnagiri district by just one vote. The Konkan region, including Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, witnessed a strong showing for BJP and the Maha-Unity alliance. Despite facing heavyweight candidates from Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress, Bhise’s one-vote victory surprised many political observers.

Sunita Rahul Dhore Secures Victory
In Pune’s Vadgaon Nagar Panchayat (Ward No. 2), NCP candidate Sunita Rahul Dhore also emerged victorious by a single vote, narrowly defeating BJP’s Pooja Atish Dhore.

Pramila Panchal Triumphs in Nanded
BJP’s Pramila Panchal won the Mudkhed Municipal Council chairperson seat in Nanded by just one vote. Her AIMIM rival requested a recount, but the margin remained unchanged. Panchal, who received 779 votes, reflected on the experience: “This election taught me the true value of every single vote. I now deeply understand Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s message: ‘One person, one vote, one value.’”

Two-Phase Polling and Statewide Coverage
The Maharashtra municipal elections were conducted in two phases on December 2 and 20, 2025, covering 246 municipal councils and 42 Nagar Panchayats. Counting took place on December 21 after being delayed from December 3 due to a Bombay High Court matter. The elections spanned administrative regions including Konkan, Nashik, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar/Aurangabad, Amravati, and Nagpur. In the Konkan division, polling occurred in five districts—Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Thane—excluding Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts.